Managing occupational health and safety

Construction sites inherently pose significant risks and hazards due to the work environment, equipment, materials, tasks, workers, schedules, hours, and even company management. As a principal contractor or employer, it's crucial to prevent work accidents and occupational diseases, not only for legal compliance but also to protect productivity, workers, and their families.

Managing occupational health and safety involves implementing a tailored prevention program. Resources like existing prevention programs from organizations such as the APICESQ offer action sheets that identify potential risks and detail preventive measures and control methods. While a prevention program is a good starting point, continuous improvement is essential to always identify, correct, and control workplace hazards.

Delaying hazard identification until the job starts leads to unwelcome surprises. Hazards should be identified during the planning stage by analyzing every aspect of the work, including equipment, materials, tasks, the work environment, and workers. Consulting accident registers and listening to workers are effective ways to identify potential hazards.

Once hazards are identified, immediate action is needed. Prioritize correcting hazards with serious and immediate consequences (zero tolerance), then frequent hazards, and finally all others. Corrective measures should eliminate hazards at the source, minimize accident likelihood, or lessen injury severity. Solutions include substituting materials/equipment, engineering controls, awareness campaigns, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Combining solutions is often necessary for effective results. Assigning a timeline and a person in charge is crucial before implementation.

After correcting hazards, implement controls to ensure chosen solutions are effective and sustainable. This involves properly informing and training workers and establishing a monitoring system to enforce new controls. Every job site is unique, and hazards evolve, so continuously following the 'identify, correct, control' process is vital for proper safety management. This reduces accidents, prevents diseases, increases productivity, and avoids work stoppages or penalties from regulatory bodies.

Prevention is a continuous and collaborative effort, the responsibility of everyone involved. APICESQ advisors are available to assist in this ongoing process.